ETHIOPIA TAKES STEPS TO KEEP EBOLA VIRUS OUT

Last Updated:
2018-05-16

ADDIS ABABA, May 16 (NNN-ENA) -- Ethiopia has established a high-level national task force charged with introducing measures to prevent the Ebola virus, which has been detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from entering the country.

Briefing the media here Tuesday, Public Health Institute Director-General Dr. Eba Abate said similar task forces have been formed in the regions (provinces) and they are making preparations to implement measures to prevent the virus.

He said the contribution of Ethiopia in responding to the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa "has given us a good experience that helps to preventing the disease". Screening and quarantine centres have become operational at international airports in the country, Dr Eba revealed.

The prevention has become necessary as Ethiopian Airline flies to the DRC and other countries which share borders with that country. The experienced health professionals who work round-the-clock at the screening and quarantine centres are well equipped and supported by health institutes and inspection teams, Dr Eba said.

Some 39 cases, including 19 deaths from Ebola were reported between April 4 and May 13 in the DRC, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). -- NNN-ENA